Children's Literature

The Pre-K Story Collections are included in each Bridges Pre-K Package.

This collection of stories contains nine beautifully illustrated read-aloud books, one for each unit of Bridges Pre-K. Each book presents 2–4 mathematically rich stories for particular Number Corner workouts or Problems & Investigations activities. The selections feature theme-based counting and numeral recognition, sequencing, shapes and locations, and very early addition and subtraction.

The following books are included in this collection:

• All About Apples: Two Apple Counting Stories
• How Does a Pumpkin Grow? & Autumn Counting Rhymes
• All About Shapes
• All About Snowflakes
• Little Mouse's Winter Mysteries & Other Counting Tales
• Teddy Bears Count & Play
• BB’s Bot Shop: Stories with Numbers & Shapes
• Ladybug & Butterfly Counting Stories
• Count & Play with Ducks & Baths

by Elinor J. Pinczes, illustrated by Bonnie Mackain 
Joe wants to march in the parade but every time the lines are uneven, he must stand aside. Determined to solve the problem, Joe rearranges the bugs in his squadron until inspiration and fortitude result in five lines of five -- and Joe fits in at last.

by Pat Brisson, illustrated by Bob Barner
Benny McBride starts his day with five new pennies and is determined to spend them all. With the help of generous and thoughtful neighbors, Benny arrives home loaded with five simple but splendid gifts.

by Steve Jenkins

An informative introduction to the "world records" held by fourteen members of the animal kingdom. Each spread portrays an animal that is the largest, slowest, longest lived. Readers can see the animal's size in relation to something familiar.

by Ann Whitford Paul
In early American times, almost every house had a patchwork quilt, sewn together from hundreds of pieces of fabric. Each quilt was unique, with different combinations of fabrics and colors and a distinct pattern. But who developed these patterns? And what did they mean?

The author's fascinating text describes many of the different quilt patterns, placing each in historical context. From the Anvil to the Zigzag, this is a creative look at a meaningful folk art tradition and an important period in American history.

by Marilyn Burns
Dissatisfied with its shape, a triangle keeps asking the local shapeshifter to add more lines and angles until it doesn't know which side is up.

by David M. Schwartz, illustrated by James Warhola
Discover what you could do if you had the amazing abilities of a frog, an ant, and more. This entertaining book includes a weight ratio comparison appendix with colorful illustrations.

by Raymond Briggs
Jim woke up early one morning to find a plant that was very like a beanstalk growing outside his window. Climbing to the top of the beanstalk, he found a castle and a giant, but with very modern problems that only Jim could help solve. 

Published by Kids Discover Magazine
Learn how wedges, wheels, pulleys and levers operate. Kids encounter the first simple machine: the wedge, which turned up as chisels, axes and arrowheads some 2.6 million years ago. Then it's on to levers, which are found in everything from scissors to baseball bats, and the wheel, without which we would not have cars.

by Elinor Pinczes, illustrated by Bonnie MacKain 
An enterprising ant suggests different formations for 100 ants to travel in rows to get to a picnic faster. This simple story told in verse is an excellent way to introduce factors of 100 and to spin off entertaining mathematical activities.

by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Wayne Geehan
To earn his knighthood, Radius must find and rescue a missing king. Sir Cumference, and his mother Lady Di of Ameter, give him a circular medalion (a protractor) that he uses to find his way through a maze of many angles.

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian 
Children will love this engaging true story of Wilson Bentley and his fascination with snowflakes. Equipped with a camera and microscope attachment, Bentley reveals two important truths about snowflakes: no two are alike, and each one is astonishingly beautiful. Paperback.

by David Birch, pictures by Devis Grebu
An Indian potentate receives a service from a wiseman and insists on repaying the favor. The wiseman requests the familiar mathematical puzzle of the chessboard, on whose first square is placed a single grain of rice, on whose second square is placed two grains, four on the third square, and so on.

The king, who is too proud to admit that he can't calculate the sum total of the gift, foolishly grants the wish, at least until it becomes clear that it will wipe out his stock.